Chapter 1: Prologue

 

“I-Iola?”

“Shh, keep your voice down, or we’ll get caught.”

Late at night, a man in light indoor clothing barged into the room of a lady staying alone at an inn.

Iola was crouched on the bed, leaning forward, hands resting on the mattress. Below him, Viretta clasped her hands over her mouth and cheeks, her heart racing at the boldness of the situation.

"I had to tell you something. Being here finally, it stirs up all sorts of emotions."

Outside the inn, there was a dragon lurking in the nearby mine.

The kind of terrifying dragon that could destroy a village with a single flap of its wings, or dry up a lake with a single breath.

“To think the five of us actually made it this far. It’s an honor to be here with you, Viretta, on this dangerous mission.”

“Of course. It’s our mine, after all, so it’s my duty to handle it.”

Viretta Medleridge, the second daughter of the Medleridge Trading Company, blushed as she curled up on the bed, looking up at Iola, whose face was as finely crafted as a sculpture.

“Finally, the day we hunt the dragon is almost upon us. This marks the end of our long, sleepless nights and the thorny path we’ve traveled.”

“Don’t you always get a solid eight hours of sleep? I always thought your health was part of your charm, Viretta.”

“That’s something only an ordinary person would say! Even though the adventure was tough, it was always bright, healthy, and thrilling. But now, it’s time to hunt the dragon and set things right.”

Trying to garner some sympathy, Viretta adjusted her tone to sound weary, but then quickly reversed her course when she heard Iola’s remark. Iola chuckled, watching her change her tune.

“Your cheerful spirit is what gives me strength.”

“Hmph, of course. Without cheer and health, I’d be just a corpse.”

“Not at all. You’ve got plenty of other strengths. If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t be here, with a team of five ready to hunt a dragon.”

Iola, who was leaning over her on the bed, slowly rose and reached out to help Viretta up. He knelt on one knee on the floor, looking every bit like a knight, despite his casual attire and lack of a proper sword.

“My dear Viretta, I must tell you something heartfelt. Tomorrow is uncertain, so I need to say this today.”

“Wait... a confession?”

“Yes, I suppose you could call it that.”

Viretta tilted her head, as if making light of it, but her eyes widened at his words.

Here he was, Iola—good-looking, from a respectable family, and seemingly perfect in every way—confessing to her in the dead of night in her private room.

“You are much wiser than I could ever be.”

Not really true.

It wasn’t that Viretta was unintelligent; rather, Iola was a genius, pursuing five degrees simultaneously.

No matter how much Viretta tried, she could never claim to be as wise as him. She squirmed at the thought.

“And you’re brave enough to face a dragon, something even the fiercest mercenary captains shy away from.”

A bit of a misunderstanding there. She hadn’t realized just how terrifying dragons were until it was too late.

“You’re generous, too, willing to invest the hard-earned money you’ve saved.”

Actually, she’d stolen it from her father.

“And finally, you brought us here with your drive and determination.”

…Which was how she and her group of five had ended up practically at the dragon’s maw.

“I was glad to be your fiancé, if only for a moment.”

But Iola’s face was genuinely bright with excitement.

Here they were, facing off against a dragon with a team of only five, and he looked absolutely thrilled. He truly trusted her.

Reflecting on it, he’d been that way since the first day they met as fiancés.

“It’s all thanks to you, Iola.”

With his unshakeable trust, she’d become the leader of this crazed mission to hunt a dragon. It was a bit sad that she couldn’t exactly call this a good kind of trust, considering how dangerous it was.

Iola, with all the dignity of a knight, kissed the back of her hand.

“The only way to repay your love and trust is clear.”

He looked up at her with eyes full of love and conviction.

“There’s no need.”

Viretta already knew what he was going to say.

Viretta Medleridge had stolen from her father, crossed mountains and rivers, and come to hunt a dragon, all to meet the trust in her fiancé’s eyes.

Given her current insane pursuit of a dragon, she could easily guess what he was about to say.

“I will slay the dragon and annul our engagement honorably.”

For the tenth time this season, Iola declared with hope, faith, and love that he intended to break off their engagement.

“You really don’t have to, though…”

Viretta muttered, crestfallen, as she repeated their engagement-breaking talk, like a parrot, even with a dragon looming before them.

“I can’t let you be tied to the misfortune of marrying me.”

“Some unpredictability in life makes it exciting, you know.”

“No, I will stand against our families if I must. You don’t deserve to have your life tarnished.”

“You’re sure you don’t dislike me?”

“I truly care for you. That’s why I’ll risk my life to hunt the dragon and break off our engagement.”

His resolve was touching, though the result was heartbreakingly sad.

This was not the sort of thing a man sneaking into his fiancée’s room at night should be saying.

It was utter nonsense, completely illogical—but for them, it wasn’t.

Hunting a dragon to break off an engagement was just another part of their crazy journey.

Why had they embarked on such a reckless path? The answer was simple.

“—If it’s for the one I love, I’ll even catch a dragon!”

It was all because of a bluff.

_________________

Just five days remained until the engagement ceremony of Viretta Medleridge, the second daughter of the wealthy Medleridge family.

It was the usual arranged marriage you’d find among the nobility and wealthy families.

As the bride-to-be, Viretta folded her arms and let out a scoff.

“He’s probably at least ten years older than me, right?”

“He’s the same age as you.”

Her father, Cadlen Medleridge, stroked his beard as he spoke.

“In that case, he must look ten years older. Maybe he’s so plain that no other woman would even look his way.”

“They say he’s quite the fine young man.”

“Do you really believe that? Everyone thinks their own child is handsome. You’d probably introduced me as a stunning beauty too, didn’t you?”

Viretta shook her curly bob, which was the color of ripe barley, as she spoke. Cadlen looked uncomfortable in front of his feisty daughter.

“There’s no need to flatter me, really. I’ve already made up my mind—to face this sad marriage to a man I’ve never met, for the sake of your business.”

“I keep telling you, he’s a good man. Even your brother sang his praises.”

“My brother only cares about his skills. I doubt a man who agreed to marry a stranger, sight unseen, will be kind to his wife.”

Her lament about the marriage continued, but there wasn’t a hint of true despair in Viretta’s voice.

It was more like a rehearsed tone of false melancholy.

Cadlen, realizing that his daughter wasn’t truly despondent, responded in a dry tone.

“He’ll be here tomorrow, so you’ll see for yourself soon enough.”

“A storm is surely coming.”

Viretta placed a hand on her chest and looked up at the sky outside the window.

Yet, the sky was annoyingly clear.

The sky was bright, with little fluffy clouds drifting along under the afternoon sun. It was a perfect day, with no sign of an impending disaster.

“Great weather. If you’ve nothing to do, Viretta, get some rest. You’ll meet your fiancé all the sooner that way.”

The engagement ceremony was set for five days from now. Viretta’s fiancé and his father would arrive with their party the next day.

Once he arrived, it would finally put an end to the constant talk about her fiancé that had dragged on for the last two months.

Tomorrow was the day at last.

“You really don’t understand me at all, Father! You’re so harsh to your only daughter.”

Viretta fired back at her father and then darted past the servants, leaping through the window into the garden.

“Be back before dinner.”

The maid and the gardener cheerfully waved her off.

 

* * *

 

"Because of my father and other elders, I’ve become the sacrificial lamb for a loveless marriage."

"It’s unfortunate that you have to face an unwanted marriage. Is that why you were here, blocking the path and looking so sad?"

In a quiet street just off the bustling square, a young man and woman had just met and were now engrossed in conversation.

The woman was Viretta, who was about to be engaged, and the man was a young traveler with an easygoing air.

"Yes, that’s right. Thank you for your sympathy," Viretta replied, grateful for his listening ear.

The traveler, though a stranger, had kindly approached her as she sat miserably, blocking the path, and asked if something was wrong. Thanks to him, Viretta had finally found someone to vent to about her upcoming engagement. None of the locals dared to mess with the Medleridge family’s young lady.

"Is that why you call your father ‘Sir Father,’ as if he were a stranger? Because of such unfortunate circumstances?"

"Something like that," she replied.

The truth was, she simply liked the formality. After hearing that in some letters, daughters addressed their fathers as ‘Sir Father,’ she had insisted on using it herself.

"Can you believe it, a loveless marriage in this day and age?"

"But perhaps he could be a good person? Maybe even someone who suits you well?"

Viretta shook her head, gazing up at the young man with a slight smile as she took hold of his wrist.

"Isn’t it terrible to marry someone simply because they’re not awful? Could you live without love?"

"It’s probably not the right thing to say to someone in your position, but to me, marriage is about family bonds and a promise between two people. Life is what you make of it, and with enough commitment, you can build a good life together—even without burning love."

"No, that’s not true. People need love to live. Even with all the money and power in the world, life without real love is just misery."

Did Viretta herself have a true love? No, she did not.

Viretta Medleridge had never had a lover in her 23 years, and not even a proper unrequited crush.

Still, the young man, unaware of her lack of experience, listened attentively.

"Is love really that powerful?"

"Think of the knight who slew a dragon, only to refuse the king’s offer of gold and the hand of a princess, because he wanted to return home to his fiancée. That’s the power of love. I don’t want to live without it."

She clasped her hands and tilted her head, speaking as if in a dream. The young man widened his eyes, asking an unexpected question.

"Then, what will you do?"

"Huh?"

"I mean, if you can’t live without love but are being forced into this marriage, are you going to challenge it?"

"Absolutely. For the sake of true love, I’d do anything."

"Anything?"

A spark of excitement flashed across the young man’s innocent face.

Viretta felt her own spirits lift.

"Of course. For someone I love, I’d leave behind my father’s expectations and flee to a faraway land with nothing but my wits. Who cares about money or honor?"

In truth, Viretta was a bit carried away.

For the past two months, everyone in her family and in town had grown weary of hearing about her engagement. It had been a long time since she’d found someone willing to listen to her story.

And he was handsome enough to make her want to impress him.

"All for love… that’s quite a resolve!"

His passionate reaction raised her confidence. Viretta lifted her chin, throwing her shoulders back.

"I’d endure any hardship, face any challenge, if it meant standing on my own and marrying the one I love. I’d even hunt a dragon for it."

Today was her last day of freedom. Once she met her fiancé tomorrow, her liberty would be gone forever. That’s why she wanted to enjoy this final day to the fullest.

The laws of the kingdom of Phyllien didn’t specify that married women were bound to their husbands with all rights stripped away.

So, what kind of freedom was Viretta referring to? It was the freedom to complain about an unseen fiancé and an imagined future married life as much as she wanted.

Now she could talk about her impending marriage as though it were the worst fate imaginable. But once she met him, she’d have to put on a facade. By all accounts, her fiancé was a foreigner from a good family, a young and intelligent man with a respectable background.

Although it was an arranged engagement for the sake of their families, her picky father wouldn’t have chosen someone flawed.

It was almost certain that a perfectly ordinary, reliable man would arrive. Perhaps even a charming and decent one.

At that point, she’d be limited in how much she could pretend this was a tragic, forced marriage. After all, getting matched up with a decent person and marrying them was as common as it gets.

Today was her last day to play the tragic heroine.

In short, Viretta Medleridge, second daughter of the Medleridge family, was a natural-born bluffer.

She had a habit of turning an ordinary engagement into a tragic marriage, inflating her fears, and exaggerating love as though it were an epic romance.

Everyone in the city knew Viretta Medleridge was a master of hyperbole.

"You’re going to hunt a dragon?"

Only this young man from outside the city, his eyes shining with admiration, had yet to realize it.

"Really, are you serious? Are you prepared? Dragon hunting is grueling and dangerous, something most say is impossible."

"It would be a hard and miserable journey, no doubt. But a mature, cultured woman like me never speaks nonsense."

Thanks to his naive reaction, Viretta’s boasting was in full swing. She puffed out her chest, displaying her bravado.

"For what I desire, I’d even slay a fire-breathing dragon."

In truth, this was just another exaggeration, a little bravado mixed with her usual penchant for grand statements—it wasn’t meant to be taken seriously.

Anyone who knew her would understand that her words were just flourishes and boasts.

But the tragedy was that this young man was an exception among exceptions.

 

* * *

The next day, Viretta walked into the sitting room where her father was waiting, feeling surprisingly cheerful.

The young man she’d met the day before had been so sympathetic, praising her bravery to the skies. Thanks to that, she was in high spirits from the moment she woke up.

She wasn’t too worried about meeting her fiancé for the first time.

If he turned out to have a problematic personality or poor manners, she could play the part of a tragic heroine. And if he was well-mannered and kind, all the better.

Though the engagement ceremony was only four days away, she knew breaking it off would be as easy as walking away. No need to be concerned—separations could happen at any time.

When Viretta opened the door, her father, Cadlen, raised his hand in greeting.

“Come in, Viretta. Our in-laws have already arrived. My dear friend, this is my second daughter, Viretta.”

She looked across the room and saw two men sitting opposite her father.

One was a middle-aged man, roughly her father’s age. The other was a young man, her soon-to-be fiancé.

He had brown hair, cut short on the sides and back but with a fuller top, giving it a distinctive layered look. It wasn’t a style commonly seen around these parts.

Beneath thick eyebrows, he had gentle, welcoming eyes. When their gazes met, she noticed the color of his eyes—something she hadn’t caught the day before—a murky shade of green.

Tall, neat, and well-dressed, he was every bit the picture of a respectable young man.

And he was the same man she’d met yesterday.

“Nice to see you again! We meet here after all.”

The young man she had encountered on the village street greeted her warmly.

Which meant that the very man who had listened to her talk about the grandeur of true love was, indeed, her fiancé.